Nizhalkuttu Kathakali in Performance

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Nizhalkuttu Attakatha (performance text of Kathakali) is written by
Shri Pannisseri Nanu Pillai. He was born on 11th September 1885 at
Maruthurkulangara, near Karunagappally, Kollam Taluk, Kerala State. He
was proficient in languages such as Malayalam, Sanskrit, English, Tamil,
Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali , Arabic etc. He was a disciple of Sri
Neelakantathirthapada Swami and Sri Vidhyadhiraja Chattampiswami. He
was interested in Kathakali since childhood.

Sri Pannissery Nanu Pillai has composed four Attakathas: Nizhalkuttu,
Bhadrakalivijayam, Padukapattabhishekam and Sankaravijayam.
Kathakaliprakaram is a theoretical text for Kathakali written by
him. He has authored many books on spiritual topics.

Shri Nanu Pillai composed Nizhalkuttu Attakatha, based on Mavaratam
Nizhalkuttu, an oral Mahabharata story popular in South Kerala. The
ritual of Nizhalkuttu Pattu used to be performed in Hindu homes for
removal of evil effects of abhichara act. To perform and take
part in this ritual was considered as auspicious. Sri Nanu Pillai aptly
selected a popular Keralite story for Kathakali, a Keralite art. Sri
Nanu Pillai envisaged that performance of Nizhalkuttu Kathakali will
also be considered as an auspicious act as the ritual [1].
[1] Nizhalkuttu Attakatha, Pannissery Nanu Pillai, preface (pages 6
to 8). Published by Pannissery Srinivasa Kurup, 2nd Edition, (1978).

(Duryodhanan comes to know from Sakuni about Bharata Malayan who is
proficient in performing various abhichara acts including Nizhalkuttu
(Shadow Piercing). Duryodhanan sends a messenger secretly to bring
Bharata Malayan to kill Pandavas by performing Nizhalkuttu.)

In the first scene, the messenger returns and informs Duryodhanan
that Bharata Malayan is presently observing a vow. After completion of the
vow, Bharata Malayan will meet Duryodhanan after two days. Duryodhanan sends
the messenger to ask Trigarttan, a subordinate King to come and meet
him.

Scene 2 Trigarttan (Thiranottam - Thantetattam)

(Trigarttan remembers that he owes all his wealth and prosperity to
Duryodhanan. The messenger conveys Duryodhanan's message to
Trigarttan to
go to Hastinapura and meet Duryodhanan. Trigarttan proceeds to meet
Duryodhanan)

Scene 3 Duryodhanan, Trigarttan

Trigarttan comes and meets Duryodhanan. Duryodhanan informs Trigarttan
that he has tried many things to harm the Pandavas. So far nothing has
succeeded. Based on the advice of Sakuni, Duryodhanan has asked Bharata
Malayan, a performer of abhichara act, to come and meet him. Trigarttan
should first test him and let him enter only after he is satisfied
and convinced about his abilities. Accordingly Trigarttan stands
guard
at the entrance of the fort.

Duryodhanan

Duryodhanan, Dutan

Duryodhanan, Trigarttan

Duryodhanan, Trigarttan

Scene 4 Bharata Malayan, Malayatti, Son

In the forest, Bharata Malayan's wife (Malayatti)
and son wait for his arrival.
Bharata Malayan enters and asks about their well being. He says that
he has
to go and meet King Duryodhanan as per the message received. The wife
hands over an elephant's tusk and honey as presents to the King.
After praying to the gods, she sends her husband off with the palm
leaves (containing mantras) and other accessories required for performing
abhichara acts. As he proceeds, she calls him back.
Since 'calling back'
is considered as inauspicious, Bharata Malayan is angry. But the wife
tells him that she wanted to ask him to meet Kunti and Pandavas when he
returns from
Hastinapura. (The wife is a devotee of Krishna and a well wisher
of the Pandavas). She wishes all good to her husband and sends him off
again.

Malayan

Malayan, Malayatti, Son

Malayan, Malayatti, Son

Malayan, Malayatti, Son

Scene 5 Trigarttan, Bharata Malayan

Trigarttan stands guard at the entrance. Bharata Malayan tries to enter
the fort. Trigarttan stops him. Bharata Malayan informs him that he has
been invited by the King. Still Trigarttan does not yield. Performing
some minor magic acts, Bharata Malayan makes Trigarttan immobile
After some time, Malayan makes Trigarttan come back to normalcy, by
withdrawing the magical power. Now, Trigarttan comes to know about the
ability of Malayan. By satisfying himself about the powers of Malayan,
Trigarttan allows him to enter the fort, with respect.

Bharata Malayan is impressed by the sights inside the fort. He thinks
that it is not proper to meet the King in his tribal appearance. He
proceeds in the form of a Mantrikan.

Trigarttan, Malayan

Trigarttan, Malayan

Trigarttan, Malayan

Scene 6 Mantrikan, Duryodhanan, Parikarmi (servant)

Mantrikan enters and hands over the presents to Duryodhanan.
Duryodhanan asks the Mantrikan to kill the Pandavas by performing
Nizhalkuttu (Shadow Piercing). Duryodhanan is ready to offer half of his
kingdom for doing this. The Mantrikan is shocked to hear Duryodhanan's
demand.
He informs Duryodhanan that both Kauravas and Pandvas are kings for him.
There is no difference.
Besides this, Lord Narayanan in the form of Sri Krishnan is there to
protect
Pandavas.
Hence he cannot even think of doing this evil act. Duryodhanan is
angry. He threatens to kill the Mantrikan if he does not obey him.
The Mantrikan is in a dilemma. To escape, he asks him to organize a list of
things (such as the sun, moon, darkness, elephant's egg, etc.)
which are impossible to get. Duryodhanan is enraged and draws his sword
to
kill the Mantrikan. The Mantrikan agrees to perform Nizhalkuttu using
the items arranged by Duryodhanan.

Duryodhanan orders a servant (Parikarmi) to bring all items. The Mantrikan
performs
the Nizhalkuttu act. He invokes the shadows of Pandavas to appear
in the magical mirror. The shadows do not appear. The Mantrikan is
worried that if, his 'abhichara' act goes in vain, the King will kill him. He
earnestly prays the gods and the shadows appear. But along with
Pandavas,
Krishnan's shadow is also present. Knowing this, Duryodhanan asks the
Mantrikan to kill
Krishnan also. Mantrikan does not agree. He removes Krishnan's shadow by
offering blood (by cutting off a finger from the hand of the
servant) and continues the elaborate ritual.
Possessed by the evil forces and in a state of ecstacy, Mantrikan kills
the
Pandavas by piercing their shadows with a knife which was duly worshipped in
the ritual.
In the end, the Mantrikan
loses his senses and falls down. By re-gaining his senses, he repents
realizing his evil act. Duryodhanan is happy. He gives many gifts to
Mantrikan. But the Mantrikan asks for half the kingdom as promised
in the
beginning. But Duryodhanan drives him away.

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrik

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan, Parikarmi

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Mantrikan, Parikarmi

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan, Parikarmi

Mantrikan, Parikarmi

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan, Parikarmi

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan, Parikarmi

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Duryodhanan, Mantrikan

Scene 7 Bharata Malayan, Malayatti, Son

The Mantrikan returns to his home as Bharata Malayan. His wife is
puzzled to see her husband arriving with lots of gifts, but sad. She
asks
him the reason for his sadness.
He says that on his return, he saw a doe and her five kids and for fun he
killed the five kids of the doe by an abhichara act.
He became sad
due to the sorrow of the mother. The wife suspects that something is
wrong. She compels him to tell her the truth.
Then he reveals that, to save his own life he was forced by Duryodhanan
to
kill the Pandavas by shadow piercing.
The
wife is shocked to hear this. She behaves like a mad woman and throws
away the gifts brought by her husband. She loses her mental balance.
She
kills her son by tearing his legs apart so that her husband will also
experience the sorrow of Pandava's mother, Kunti. Seeing her hands
dripping with blood of her own son, she shouts aloud. Her husband is
shell
shocked to see the horrible act of his wife. He falls down losing his
senses. The wife rushes to meet Kunti.

Son, Malayatti, Malayan

Malayan, Malayatti

Malayatti, Son

Scene 8 Kunti, Krishnan, Malayatti, Son

Kunti is shocked by the death of her sons, the five Pandavas. She
prays to Krishnan to save her children. Krishnan appears and makes the
Pandavas live again. The wife of Bharata Malayan comes running. She says
that she has punished her husband for his evil act by killing her own
son.
She begs Krishnan and Kunti to pardon her husband since he was forced
to do this by Duryodhanan. Krishnan says that he does have anything
against Bharata Malayan since it was Duryodhanan who made him to do so.
Krishnan comforts her and makes her son live again. Paying respects to
Krishnan, Kunti and Pandavas, the wife of Bharata Malayan returns to her
home
with her son.